Who Knew?

Anyone enjoying the snow? I am :).

Today was James's kinda Saturday afternoon, the sun was out a little between the clouds and it was slightly windy. Usually on days like these he would be taking a jog if he had the energy to or would be lazing around in his room drawing random fictional people or different scenery’s.

Today however was completely different and better because he was spending it with Riley.

James and Riley were pulling up to James's house. They were about to get the rest of James's things, not that he had much but he needed the little clothes he had because Riley's clothes weren't really working for him. The shirt was fine...sorta, but the jeans were practically hanging off his of him. Besides clothes he really wanted to get all his old family photos when everyone was happy together, and also he and his dad take pictures whenever he visited him in New England and those were very dear to him.

They parked on the street in front on James's house and ventured inside through the brown front door. They were meet with a purple walled living room and dark brown wooden floors. The living room was a disaster consisting of vodka bottles and cigarettes butts virtually everywhere.

“I'm sorry for the mess. I didn't have the time to clean up last time I was here.” James said noticing how his boyfriend was looking at his home.

They turned left out of the living room and walked through a hallway that held two rooms on the right side and stairs on the left.

“You usually clean this up? All of it?” a shocked Riley asked following James into the first room they ran into.

“Yea, who else will? If I don't I’d probably will be living with roaches everywhere.”

“You do have a point there sir. At my house you won't be lifting a finger, I’ll be your servant.” Riley said half series and half joking, he knew that James wasn't going to let him do much.

“Riley-” James was cut off by the chorus of 'Lights and Sounds' by Yellowcard. It was Riley's phone.

“Hold that protesting thought for just a sec, my dad's calling.” Riley said smilingpushing the answer button on his phone. “Hey dad?...Really?...Well..”

While Riley spoke to his dad James gathered everything he wanted to bring and started putting it inside his blue suitcase he used whenever he visited his dad.

'I wonder when's the next time I’ll see my dad.' James thought tearing up slightly missing his most precious person in the world. 'But you have Riley now.' his brain reminded him. 'That's right I do have him.' He thought looking over where Riley was smiling carefree still talking to his dad and began to smile slightly too at the thought of having Riley in his life.

James looked around his room double checking that he had everything he wanted and started to think about old memories. His dad playing hide-and-go-seek with him when he was younger, his dad attempting to cook which ended in making spaghetti sauce splash everywhere a couple years ago.

'Huh..maybe I will miss this house.' then he began to envision his mother beating him with a vodka bottle in her hand screaming and scrapping around the house for food.

'God... I hope this will be the last time I ever come inside this house.' James thought changing his mind.

“Hey James, almost finished?” James turned to Riley looking at him suspiciously. And saw that Riley's eyes had a mischievous tint to them.

“I'm done... Are we about to go somewhere?” James replied, having a feeling that Riley wasn't going to tell him.

“Yup! Lets go.” Riley said walking to the front door, assuring James that he wasn't going to know till they got there.

James just sighed following him out the door not bothering to lock the door. He didn’t really care for this house anymore his mother could do whatever she wanted with it.

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“Riley we've been driving for twenty-five minutes now! Can you tell me where we're going?” James said drumming his fingers impatiently on the armrest that was on the door of Riley's car.

“Um...Nope! We're almost there.” Riley said chirpily.

'He's probably enjoying my frustration.' James thought looking at Riley annoyed. “You said that five minutes ago.” James mumbled.

“We're here Mr. Impatient. Leeets go!” Riley said practically jumping out the car.

“Where's here?” James said looking around and noticed that they were at the mall. “Riley... why are we at the mall?” he said warily.

“I just needed to get some things.” James hoped that Riley wasn't going to get anything for him but he had a sinking feeling in his stomach that that's exactly why they were here.

“For yourself right...?” James said with slight hope in his voice.

“Pssh...of course...” James breathed out a sigh of relief. “and for you too.” Riley said breaking James's satisfaction.

“You don't have to. I plan on getting a job soon and-” James sighed as he got cut off by Riley. He had a feeling that he was going to get cut off anyway because it happened every time he started to protest something that Riley really wanted to happen.

“I know I don't have to I want to. Besides I have money to splurge on and I don't want anything soooo I wanna spend it on you. You okay with that? Yea?” Riley said with begging eyes.

James wished he had it in him to say no...but he just couldn't. 'Maybe going in here and getting new clothes won't be that bad.'
“Fine. Just stop looking at me like that.” James said giving in.

“Yay!” Riley said smiling and running to the entrance of the mall. James trailed behind him not at all excited about this.

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“Finally.” James said completely worn out as he and Riley left the hell hole people called the mall. They were in there for three hours. Three whole hours! James had never been in the mall that long before and hadn't planned on ever doing it but he guessed that life couldn't always go the way you wanted it to.

“It wasn't that bad James, stop over exaggerating.” Riley said chuckling. He went over and hugged his boyfriend and kissed him on his forehead.

“Yea-huh it was.” James replied pushing Riley slightly to get inside the car. “All those people going after a sale, and then getting pissed off when there they don't their way. I don't see how that didn't annoy you.”

“I use to work at a mall back where I use to live so I’m use to it. It's even worse round' the holidays.” Riley said casually. James looked at him with wide eyes.

“How did you survive actually working inside that...that hell on earth?” James said astonished.

“Ear-plugs.” Was all Riley said smiling. He drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road.

“Wha-How? Never mind. I just know that I would never survive working in a mall.” James said shaking his head staring out the window.

After awhile James began to feel Riley staring at him and he could hear Riley tapping his hands against the steering wheel every time they were at a red light.

“Riley are you okay?” James said concerned.

He looked over at James opened his mouth then shut it, opened it again and then shut it once again. Riley took a deep breath, exhaled then said nervously “James...my dad is gunna...he's gunna be home when we get there.”

'His dad's gunna be there? That's what he's worried about?' James thought feeling at ease. “Okay...so that meas that I’m gunna have to meet your dad right? That's fine with me.”

“Good. I was afraid that you were gunna be upset.” Riley said with a pleased smile on his face. James just shook his head and began staring outside again.

“Does he know that I’m living there now?” James said a tad worried.

“Not... really. He just knows that I have a friend over. But don't worry I telling him when we get home.” Riley said in a rush when he saw James start to tense.

“Okay.” James breathed out. And neither of them said anything else the rest of the car ride.

The TV could be heard from the living room as James and Riley entered the house. 'Here goes nothin.' James thought meekly.

“Hey dad how did your business trip go?” Riley said starting conversation as he and James entered the living room. Riley sat down next to his dad and James sat on the other couch that was closer to the front door just in case Riley's dad kicked him out.

“Eh.. it went how they usually go. How has school been goin? And tell me bout' your friend here.” Riley's dad said with a casual tone to his voice.

“Eh...schools been how it usually is.” Riley said copying his father's tone of voice smiling. “And this is James and... he's... he is...um.”

“Riley just spit it out. You can tell your Old Pop anything.” Riley's dad said reassuringly patting Riley on his knee.

“I know. Dad...James is my boyfriend.” Riley said tensely waiting for his dad's reaction. Not that his dad was homophobic it was just a precaution.

“Is that all son? You had me thinkin that you killed somebody.” Riley's dad said laughing. “I don't care if whether you're gay or not son.”

Riley breathed a sigh of relief. “Wait dad that's not all. Can James live here?” Riley said confidently since his dad didn't care about his sexuality.

At this his father stopped laughing.“Isn't a lil too early for you two to be living together? Of course I’m assuming that you just started dating.”

“Yea it is but James..” Riley looked over at James to see if it was alright with him to say why he was living here but all Riley saw on his face was indifference. “James can't go home.”

“And why is that? I won't judge.” Riley's dad said encouragingly.

“Because he's having problems at home and I really don't want him to live there. Can he stay here dad? Please.” Riley said going around the question giving his dad the puppy eyes.

Gorden Carter eyed his son and then James calculatingly then said “Alright I guess, but sooner or later I want the two of you to tell me whats goin on okay?”

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Love you dad.” Riley said happily standing up. “Lets go put up your clothes James yea?”

“Your welcome son, love ya too. Oh and wait a minute James I don't think we had a proper greeting, come here.” James walked over “My name's Gorden Carter, father to Riley Carter and you are?” Gorden said shaking his hand smiling “James D'Lonvincio, thank you for letting me live here sir.” James said also with a smile on his face.

“No problem and don't call me sir please it makes me feel old, call me Gorden. See ya in the morning, I’m bout' to eat somethin' then go to bed.” Gorden said as he went into the kitchen. James followed Riley and went into his room to put up all the clothes he got unnecessarily from the hell hole that people called the mall.





Answers to Reviews
Lisa; Thank you! And don't worry everything will fall into place as the story goes on..maybe
:]

Carissa; Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Seiri; Thank your friend for me cuz they are truly awesome and so are you for reviewing :P. I’m glad I managed to change your views about stories like these. And I’m sorry you had to go watch that. I have witnessed one of friends begin abused also and I couldn't stop it from happening.